On set, Leone relied for atmosphere upon tapes of Ennio Morricone’s main musical themes, which, this time, had all been written, performed and recorded in advance: ‘Everyone acted with the music, followed its rhythm, and suffered with its “aggravating” qualities, which grind the nerves.’
Leone had started discussing the music for Once Upon a Time in America immediately after completing Giù la testa, and the score was more or less complete by 1975-6, seven years before a foot of film was shot, which must be a record.
Ennio Morricone has written some of the cinema’s most- recognizable and best-loved film scores including the recent Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America”. Here he is interviewed by Sue Adler.
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